Neighborhood Center District Regulations in Orlando: Allowed and Prohibited Uses
The Neighborhood Center districts in the City of Orlando (designated as NC in the Southeast Orlando Sector and AC-N citywide) are designed to provide walkable destinations, civic gathering places, and medium-density housing integrated with neighborhood-serving commercial uses. These districts prioritize pedestrian-oriented design, often restricting high-intensity services like outside storage or labor pools to maintain the character of the surrounding residential areas.
NC Neighborhood Center District Purpose (Southeast Orlando Sector)
Within the Southeast Orlando Sector Plan area of the City of Orlando, the NC Neighborhood Center District is established to serve as a hub for the community. The specific objectives for land use in this district include:
- Gathering Places: Providing physical locations for residents to meet and interact.
- Walkable Destinations: Creating a scale that allows for neighborhood-focused activities accessible by foot.
- Civic Activities: Accommodating public and community-oriented functions.
- Medium-Density Housing: Ensuring residential development surrounds and integrates with the core commercial area [Section 58.495].
Detailed Land Use List: AC-N Neighborhood Activity Center
In the Municipality of Orlando, the general use regulations for neighborhood centers are categorized under the AC-N (Neighborhood Activity Center District). The following table details the status of various residential and non-residential uses as defined by the City of Orlando's primary use table [Figure 2, Sections 58.110].
Residential Uses
| Use Category | Permission Status in AC-N |
|---|---|
| Single Family Dwellings | Permitted (P) |
| Multi-Family Dwellings | Permitted (P) |
| Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) | Permitted (P) |
| Townhomes | Permitted with Appearance Review (PA) |
| Duplex or Tandem Dwellings | Permitted with Appearance Review (PA) |
| Mobile Homes | Prohibited (Blank) |
Non-Residential and Commercial Uses
| Use Category | Permission Status in AC-N |
|---|---|
| General Office | Permitted (P) |
| Medical Office / Dental Labs | Permitted (P) |
| Restaurants | Permitted (P) |
| Bars | Permitted (P) |
| Nightclubs | Permitted (P) |
| Retail (Light) | Permitted (P) |
| Neighborhood Convenience Store | Permitted (P) |
| Automotive Services | Permitted (P) |
| Major Vehicle Services | Permitted (P) |
| Child / Adult Day Care | Permitted (P) |
| Hospitals and Clinics | Permitted (P) |
| Hotels and Motels | Permitted (P) |
| Communication Towers | Conditional Use + Appearance Review (CA) |
| Parking as a Principal Use | Conditional Use (C) |
| Intensive Retailing / Services | Conditional Use (C) |
| Golf Courses | Conditional Use (C) |
| Manufacturing and Processing | Prohibited (Blank) |
| Wholesale / Warehousing | Prohibited (Blank) |
| Adult Entertainment | Prohibited (Blank) |
| Personal Storage Facilities | Prohibited (Blank) |
Prohibited Uses and Restrictions in Special Plan Overlays
Certain geographic areas within the City of Orlando have additional prohibitions for AC-N or NC districts to protect specific corridor environments.
Lake Underhill Special Plan Area
Within the Lake Underhill Special Plan, the following uses are strictly prohibited in the AC-N District:
- Billboards.
- Parking as a principal use.
- Outside storage of any kind [Section 62.404].
Semoran Boulevard Special Plan Area
The Semoran Boulevard Special Plan prohibits the following uses across all zoning districts within its boundaries, including Neighborhood Centers:
- Labor pools and labor halls.
- Car-title loan facilities.
- Check cashing establishments and payday advance businesses.
- Tattoo, body art, and body piercing establishments.
- Pawnshops (except those legally existing which may perform substantial improvements).
- Bail bond agencies.
- Flea markets.
- Automobile sales and rentals.
- Fortune tellers, tarot card readers, and psychics.
- Mobile food vending [Section 62.408(h)].
Development Standards for Neighborhood Centers
The City of Orlando mandates the following minimum and maximum standards for development within the AC-N district to ensure consistency with the Growth Management Plan [Figure 1].
| Standard Type | Requirement for AC-N District |
|---|---|
| Minimum Density | 15 dwelling units per acre |
| Maximum Density | 30 dwelling units per acre |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | 0.30 |
| Maximum Height | 35 feet |
| Maximum Impervious Surface Ratio (ISR) | 0.90 |
| Minimum Front Yard Setback | 20 feet |
| Minimum Side Yard Setback | 5 feet |
| Minimum Street Side Setback | 15 feet |
| Minimum Rear Yard Setback | 20 feet |
Sections Cited
- Section 58.110 (Zoning Tables and Key)
- Section 58.341 (Purpose of Activity Center Districts)
- Section 58.494 (NC Neighborhood Center District Relationship)
- Section 58.495 (Purpose of the NC District)
- Section 58.497 (Additional District Requirements for NC)
- Section 62.404 (Lake Underhill Special Plan USES)
- Section 62.408 (Semoran Boulevard Special Plan Prohibitions)
- Figure 1 (Table of Zoning District Regulations)
- Figure 2 (Table of Allowable Uses)